A convoy of Soviet Army armoured personal vehicles cross a bridge in Termez, 21 May 1988 at Soviet-Afghan border, during the withdrawal of the Red Army from Afghanistan. The Soviet Union invaded Afghanistan in December 1979 to shore up the pro-Soviet regime in Kabul and maintained more than 100,000 troops in the country until completing their phased withdrawal in 1989.

A Red Army soldier atop of his armoured personal vehicle smiles 16 May 1988 as Soviet Army troops stop in Kabul prior to their withdrawal from Afghanistan. The Soviet war in Afghanistan, also known as the Soviet-Afghan War, was a nine-year conflict involving Soviet forces supporting the Marxist People's Democratic Party of Afghanistan (PDPA) government against the Mujahideen resistance. The initial Soviet deployment of the 40th Army in Afghanistan began on August 7, 1978. The final troop withdrawal began on May 15, 1988, and ended on February 15, 1989. AFP PHOTO DOUGLAS E. CURRAN

EN_01109099_0041 AFP

An Afghan soldier, loyal to Soviet forces, siting on a Soviet-made T64 tank watches 17 August 1989 around the valley near famous Salang Pass, once a strategic supply road, used by the Soviet army during its 1979-89 occupation. AFP PHOTO GEORGES GOBET

EN_01109099_0015 AFP

Red Army soldiers wait in front of their plane to leave for Soviet Union at the Kabul airport 13 February 1989 during Soviet Army withdrawal from Afghanistan. The Soviet Union invaded Afghanistan in December 1979 to shore up the pro-Soviet regime in Kabul and maintained more than 100,000 troops in the country until completing their phased withdrawal in 1989.

EN_01109099_0017 AFP

Red Army soldiers wave goodbye from the door of a Soviet aircraft before take off 13 February 1989 at the Kabul airport during Soviet Army withdrawal from Afghanistan. The Soviet Union invaded Afghanistan in December 1979 to shore up the pro-Soviet regime in Kabul and maintained more than 100,000 troops in the country until completing their phased withdrawal in 1989.

EN_01109099_0018 AFP

Red Army soldiers surrounded by foreign press wait their plane to leave for Soviet Union at the Kabul airport 13 February 1989 during Soviet Army withdrawal from Afghanistan. The Soviet Union invaded Afghanistan in December 1979 to shore up the pro-Soviet regime in Kabul and maintained more than 100,000 troops in the country until completing their phased withdrawal in 1989.

EN_01109099_0010 AFP

An emotional mother embraces her son, a Soviet soldier (L) who has just crossed the Soviet-Afghan border 06 February 1989 in Termez, during the withdrawal of Soviet army from Afghanistan. The Soviet Union invaded Afghanistan in December 1979 to shore up the pro-Soviet regime in Kabul and maintained more than 100,000 troops in the country until completing their phased withdrawal in 1989.

EN_01109099_0020 AFP

A convoy of Red Army armoured personnel vehicles (BRDM) wait for the green light 05 February 1986 on the highway heading to the strategic Salang Tunnel, which is a vital link between Southern Afghanistan and the central Asian republics, as Red Army returns to the Soviet Union. The Soviet Union invaded Afghanistan in December 1979 to shore up the pro-Soviet regime in Kabul and maintained more than 100,000 troops in the country until completing their phased withdrawal in 1989.

A Red Army soldiers smile 16 August 1988 during a parade as Soviet Army troops stop in Kabul prior to their withdrawal from Afghanistan. The Soviet Union invaded Afghanistan in December 1979 to shore up the pro-Soviet regime in Kabul and maintained more than 100,000 troops in the country until completing their phased withdrawal in 1989.

EN_01109099_0008 AFP

A Red Army female soldiers wave flowers 16 August 1988 as Soviet Army troops stop in Kabul prior to their withdrawal from Afghanistan. The Soviet Union invaded Afghanistan in December 1979 to shore up the pro-Soviet regime in Kabul and maintained more than 100,000 troops in the country until completing their phased withdrawal in 1989.

EN_01109099_0011 AFP

An emotional mother embraces her son, a Soviet soldier (L) who has just crossed the Soviet-Afghan border 21 May 1988 in Termez, during the withdrawal of Soviet army from Afghanistan. The Soviet Union invaded Afghanistan in December 1979 to shore up the pro-Soviet regime in Kabul and maintained more than 100,000 troops in the country until completing their phased withdrawal in 1989.

EN_01109099_0013 AFP

A Soviet soldier (c) who lost his left arm during the Afghan war gets his camera fixed 21 May 1988 as troops line up in Termez during the welcoming ceremony, at Soviet-Afghan border, during the withdrawal of Soviet army from Afghanistan. The Soviet Union invaded Afghanistan in December 1979 to shore up the pro-Soviet regime in Kabul and maintained more than 100,000 troops in the country until completing their phased withdrawal in 1989.

EN_01109099_0031 AFP

Soviet officials celebrate, under a huge portrait of Lenin, on May 21, 1988, in Termez, at the Soviet-Afghan border, the withdrawal of the Red Army from Afghanistan. The banner on the right reads: "Glory to our land soldiers".... The Soviet war in Afghanistan, also known as the Soviet-Afghan War, was a nine-year conflict involving Soviet forces supporting the Marxist People's Democratic Party of Afghanistan (PDPA) government against the Mujahideen resistance. The initial Soviet deployment of the 40th Army in Afghanistan began on August 7, 1978. The final troop withdrawal began on May 15, 1988, and ended on February 15, 1989. AFP PHOTO / VITALY ARMAND